AIR CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT SURFACES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A patient support surface comprising:
- a cover defining an interior region;
a plurality of inflatable zones located in the interior region; and
a plurality of air control nodes located in the interior region, each node being associated with a zone, each node including an air supply pneumatically coupled to one of the zones and a processor operable to execute programming logic configured to control air flow between the air supply and the zone.
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Abstract
This disclosure describes a patient support surface having a cover defining an interior region, with a plurality of inflatable zones and a plurality of control nodes located within the interior region. Each control node comprises an air control system including an air supply and a processor.
32 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A patient support surface comprising:
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a cover defining an interior region; a plurality of inflatable zones located in the interior region; and a plurality of air control nodes located in the interior region, each node being associated with a zone, each node including an air supply pneumatically coupled to one of the zones and a processor operable to execute programming logic configured to control air flow between the air supply and the zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14)
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10. A mattress assembly comprising:
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a cover defining interior region, the interior region comprising a plurality of inflatable zones including a head zone configured to support an upper body portion of a patient and a seat zone configured to support a seat portion of a patient, each of the zones having a first side and a second side transversely spaced from the first side, and a non-inflatable support member positioned adjacent one of the sides of the inflatable zones along a longitudinal axis of the mattress assembly, wherein the non-inflatable support member includes at least one control node operably coupled to at least one of the zones to control air flow in the at least one inflatable zones. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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15. An air control system for a patient support surface having a plurality of bladder assemblies, the air control system comprising:
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a first control node including a first memory, a first node identifier stored in the first memory, a first pneumatic coupling configured to couple the first control node to a first bladder assembly of a patient support surface, a first air supply configured to supply air flow to the first bladder assembly via the first pneumatic coupling, a first processor configured to receive air control data, apply first air control logic to the air control data, and control operation of the first air supply in consideration of the air control data, a second control node including a second memory, a second node identifier stored in the second memory, the second node identifier being different than the first node identifier, a second pneumatic coupling configured to couple the second control node to a second bladder assembly of a patient support surface, a second air supply configured to supply air flow to the second bladder assembly via the second pneumatic coupling, a second processor configured to receive air control data, apply second air control logic to the air control data, and control operation of the second air supply in consideration of the air control data, and a communication link configured to permit electronic communication between the first control node and the second control node. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling air flow in a patient support surface having a plurality of inflatable zones, the method comprising:
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receiving at a first control node pressure data indicative of an internal pressure of a first inflatable zone, receiving at the first control node data indicative of an occurrence of an event triggering adjustment of the internal pressure of the first inflatable zone, applying first control logic to the data, operating an air supply provided at the first control node to adjust the internal pressure of the first inflatable zone, receiving at a second control node pressure data indicative of an internal pressure of a second inflatable zone, receiving at the second control node data indicative of an occurrence of an event triggering adjustment of the internal pressure of the second inflatable zone, applying second control logic to the data, and operating an air supply provided at the second control node to adjust the internal pressure of the second inflatable zone. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a mattress including a plurality of inflatable bladder assemblies, and an air control system operably coupled to the mattress, the air control system including a plurality of control nodes, wherein each control node includes an air supply and a processor configured to control air flow between the air supply and one of the bladder assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification